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Squamata, Sauria: Agamidae - Genus Calotes, Crested Lizards
The Crested Lizards of the genus Calotes inhabit South Asia and Southeast Asia with the greatest diversity of species in the Western Ghats of southern India and Sri Lanka. The genus contains about 21 species and it is unlikely that they all share a common ancestor. The name 'Bloodsuckers" is commonly applied to these lizards because courting males may develop a bright red head.
Change Lizard, Calotes versicolor

The Change Lizard, Calotes versicolor (Daudin, 1802). Both of these adult males were photographed near Ban Tha Hin, in the Lake Songhkla area, southern Thailand. Change Lizards are common and widespread, ranging from Afghanistan and Iran east to India, and most of mainland Southeast Asia. They may be found from sea level to at least 1400 meters. Their body reaches about 140 mm in length, and males are larger than females in the populations studied. They feed on insects and plants, and lay 6-14 eggs, that hatch in 42-67 days.

Calotes versicolor basking
Calotes versicolor Sri Lanka
Calotes emma

A crested lizard, Calotes sp. photographed it Khao Luang National Park, Thailand.

Calotes mystaceus

The Blue Crested Lizard, Calotes mystaceus. Photographed in a dry forest in central Thailand. Adults reach a body length of 140 mm, and a total length of 420 mm. This is a bright blue-green, arboreal Calotes that is endemic to the Indochinese Peninsula and Myanmar.

 
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